“The bullpen had trouble containing again”, Molitor said. Detroit just wrapped up a three-game sweep of Minnesota and now hold on to a precarious half-game lead for the final Wild Card. “We’re not putting much together”.
Advertisement
“It’s unfortunate for him that he hasn’t been able to celebrate a lot of those home runs with the losses”, said Twins manager Paul Molitor. Minnesota’s top pitcher gave up a leadoff single to Victor Martinez before walking the next three batters.One batter later, Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s sacrifice fly scored J.D. Martinez for a 2-0 lead.The Twins got on the board in the third when catcher Juan Centeno tagged a solo home run to right-center field off Verlander. “I think there’s some positives but it’s hard to focus on those at that time”. “You’ve got the end goal and we’re all working towards that and I don’t think anybody is going to let ups and downs, ebbs and flows get to you until the end of the season”. The Mariners won for the 11th time in 15 contests following Friday’s 10-1 thumping of Minnesota, however, as Robinson Cano recorded four hits and Nelson Cruz swatted his 38th homer as part of a four-RBI effort to keep Seattle within two games of streaking Detroit for the second wild-card spot.
The Tigers lineup, without starting second baseman Ian Kinsler (concussion) for the third straight game, took advantage of Twins starter Ervin Santana’s control problems and some fielding miscues to score four runs.
Sanchez settled in after though, allowing just one more hit and a walk while staying on the mound for five innings of work. “We need to win right now”.
The game was a makeup of Wednesday’s rain-shortened game, which was postponed in the bottom of the third inning.
“I wouldn’t say that it changes everything”, Verlander said. “Didn’t seem to stop the second one”.
BREWERS 3, PIRATES 1 Chris Carter hit his 37th home run, matching his career high and Scooter Gennett sliced an opposite-field, two-run home run to help Milwaukee avoid another sweep at Miller Park by Pittsburgh. “To get a chance to do that here at home is pretty cool”.
Buxton then got the Twins’ first hit by beating out a two-out grounder to first later in the inning. But Buxton beat Paxton to the base for a hit.
Advertisement
Twins: RF Max Kepler was out of the lineup but was cleared to play after leaving Thursday’s doubleheader with a mild neck strain from hitting the wall awkwardly. Duffey has allowed at least five earned runs in three of his last four outings. Miranda has gone 4-0 with a 2.16 ERA in his last four starts with 20 strikeouts in 25 innings. He gave way to Blake Wood, who hung an 0-1 slider that Braun ripped up the middle to make it a 5-3 game.
